Printing press



Nov. 28, 1939. D. D. VANDERCOOK ET! AL 2.181,714

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PRINTING PRESS Filed July 18, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 28, 1939. H 2,181,714

PRINTING PRESS Filed July 18, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 III FEW UPS .Dnwo .0. Uwvosecaaz.

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Nov. 28, 1939.

D. D. VANDERCOOK ET AL PRINTING PRESS Filed July 18, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 [TI En E1 '5 DAV/n l). Kuvosecoaz. Orro C. GEF'FKEN.

Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE PRINTING PRESS Vandercook Application July 18, 1938, Serial No. 219,696

Claims.

This invention relates to printing presses and particularly to improved means for assuring synchronization of the surface speed of the form and the form roller during the application of ink to the form.

It is well understood in the printing art that, in order to obtain the most eflicient printing results, the engagement of the form inking roller and form should be a rolling engagement free from any relative movement of the form and roller along the line of ink application to the form, in order to avoid slurring of ink on the form. This, of course, can be readily accomplished with the ordinary hand operated inking roller, but when the form rollers are mounted on a printing machine and are included in an assembly with distributing rollers and vibrating rollers, proper synchronization of the surface speed of the form and the form rollers is not always assured. Weather and temperature conditions may affect the form rollers and cause variations in diameter and circumference thereof, and the effect of different degrees of ink viscosity will also interfere with the proper rolling engagement of the form rollers and form. The prior art discloses various adjusting means whereby adjustments may be madein the driving of the form rollers to compensate for temperature, weather, viscosity, or other disturbances, butsuch adjustments have been more or less in the nature of guesswork.

An important object of this invention. is the application of indicating means to a printing machine for indicating any degree of variation or departure from proper synchronism of the form and form rollers surface speeds so that proper adjustment may be made with greater intelligence and accuracy.

A further important object of the invention is to provide improved means for quickly and accurately making the proper adjustment for any error indicated by the indicating means.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved assembly of form rollers and distributing rollers and improved driving means therefor which will tend to reduce non-synchronization of the surface speed of the form and form rollers to a minimum and which can be readily adjusted for. correction of errors pointed out by the indicating means.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide efiicient indicating means which can be accurately read or observed either while the press is at rest or in operation, so that the indicating means may be used with equal efficiency Figure 6 is a plan view of the distributing roller assembly;

Figure '7 is a section of the inking roller assembly on line VII-VII of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of the end of the distributing roller structure showing the gauge or indicating mechanism;

Figure 9 is an enlarged section on plane IXIX of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the end of one of form rollers showing the construction of the adjustable supporting wheels therefor; and

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing a modified form of supporting wheel.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, we have shown the invention applied to .a. Well known type of proof printing press in which the printing form is stationarily supported on the press bed and the printing roller and inking assembly are moved longitudinally along the press bed for application to the form. The press shown comprises the bed structure I supporting the gear racks 2 with which the printing roll cooperates, the printing roll 3 being mounted in the carriage 3 which has traction on the rail flanges 5, gears (not shown) on the printing roll meshing with the racks 2 so that when the roll is turned, the carriage 4 will travel along the press bed for application of the printing roll to the form, such as a form F. A crank lever 6 for turning the printing roll may be mounted directly on the printing roll shaft, or, as shown, it may be mounted on a shaft '1 connected by suitable transmission means 8 with the printing roll shaft, the shaft 1 being journalled on the carriage 4.

The inking assembly. moves with the carriage t and is mounted between plates 9 and i0 extending from the ends of the carriage 4. We have shown an inking assembly in which two form rollers A and B are provided and are jour-' nalled in a truck body comprising end frames 1 I connected together by cross rods 12.

Each of the form rollers A and B comprises a tubular hub I3, preferably of metal, for supporting the outer layer or body I l of ink carrying material, which may be of rubber, or of glue or other composition. As best shown in Figure 10, the hub or core iii of each form roller has a stub shaft i5 extending from each end thereof on which a supporting wheel structure W is mounted, these wheel structures engaging with rails l6 mounted on the press bed inside of the gear racks 2, as clearly shown on Figure 3. The ends of the stub shafts are received in journal boxes ll mounted on bearing frames l8 below the corresponding truck end walls H. These bearing or journal frames are suspended from the truck end frames H by screws I9 extending through passages 20 in the frames H, the screw heads seating in the enlarged upper ends of the passages, and the passages being elongated transversely of the roller axes so that the frames [8 and rollers journalled thereby may have limited transverse movement relative to the truck frame H, I2. Adjustable abutment pins 2| thread through the truck frames 1 l for abutting the frames 58 to hold the frames H8 in their lower position, the engagement of the pins with the frames being sufficiently light so as not to interfere with the free transverse play of the roller assembly on the truck frames. At their outer ends, the truck frames l l have downward extensions 22 for supporting pins 23 projectible into openings 24 in the front ends .of the bearing frames 3, these pins 23 preventing rocking of the frames 18 without interfering with the transverse play thereof.

When in service, the truck structure with the form rollers A and B extends between the side plates 9 and illof the carriage structure 4, the side plates having vertical channels 25 for receiving the projecting ends of the rods I2, so that the form roller truck structure is coupled to the carriage 4 to travel therewith for application of the form rollers to the form F (see Figure 1).

The distributing roller assembly, Figures 3, 4,

- 6, and 7, comprises a distributor roller 26 and a vibrator roller structure 27. The distributor roller 28 is preferably in the form of a cylindrical metallic tube,preferably steel, as shown on Figure 7, and as shown on Figure 9, plugs 28 in the ends of the roller have stub shafts 29 extending therefrom for engagement in bearing bushings 3i supported by end walls 3| which are spaced apart and connected by upper and lower rods 32 and 32'.

To the upper ends of the side walls 3! are secured vertically extending sleeves 33 having'horizontally inwardly extending lugs 34, these lugs having the vertically extending channels 35for receiving the tongues 35 at the ends of the shaft 31 which supports the vibrator roll structure 21, the outer sheath of this vibrator roller structure being of suitable ink carrying material or composition and the axis of the vibrator roller being preferably directly vertically above and parallel with the axis of the distributor roller 26. The vibrator roller and its shaft have key and thread connection which will cause longitudinal reciprocation of the vibrator roller when it is rotated by its engagement with the distributing roller,

' such arrangement being well known in the printing art, the tongue and channel connection permitting the vibrator roller to move by gravity for support thereof by the distributing roller.

Keyed on the stub shafts 29 of the distributing roller 25 are wheel structures 38 and 38 respectively which, as shown, may be in the form of steel cylindrical rollers which are in alignment with the wheel structure W at the ends of the form rollers for engagement therewith as best shown in Figure 4. The rear stub shaft 29 terminates in a gear 39 which meshes with the outer gear 50 of a gear assembly 4| of which the inner gear 42 meshes with a gear rack 43 on the press bed outside of the corresponding gear rack 2, the gear assembly being mounted on a stub shaft 4| extending from the wall H! (see Figures 2 and 3). With this arrangement, as the printing roll carriage and the inking roller assembly coupled thereto are moved longitudinally along the press bed, the distributing roll 26 will be positively rotated by the gearing train 42, 4Q, 39.

As best shown by Figures 1, 3, and 4, the distributor roller supporting structure is suspended by means of threaded studs 44 extending downwardly from the ends of arms 45 secured to shaft 46 journalled at its ends in the side plates 9 and I ll of the carriage 4. These threaded studs eX- t'end through the unthreaded bores of the sleeves 33 on the side walls 3 l' of the distributor roll supporting structure, the side walls having the openings or recesses 41 below the sleeves into which recesses the threaded studs project. Upper and lower threaded knurled nuts 48 and Q9 on the threaded studs abut respectively against the upper and lower ends of the sleeves 33, and by adjustment of these nuts, the supporting structure-for the distributing roller may be vertically adjusted relative to the supporting arms 45.

At its outer end the shaft 46 has a gear 5!] secured thereto which meshes with a gear 5| rotatable by a lever 52, the swing of the lever resulting in downward or upward swing of the of the form rollers will be engaged by the distributing roller 26, When the distributing roller assembly is in operative position in association j with the form roller assembly, plates 53 at the lower ends of the end walls M of the distributor roller supporting structure will engage against the inner side of the end walls H of the form roller truck structure so as to hold the distributor roller supporting structure against axial displacement relative to the form roller truck structure. L-shaped latch levers 5d are pivoted at 55 to the front ends of the truck side frames l I and are provided with latch bolts 56 adapted for latching engagement with the upper ends of posts 51 extending from the rear ends of the truck side frames ll. When the press is in operation, the latch levers are in closed position and extend between the ends of the upper and lower rods 32 and 32' of the distributor roller assembly, the lower rod ends being longer so as to project below the levers, as clearly shown on Figures 3 and 4. If it is desired to separate the distributing roller assembly from the form roller assembly for cleaning or other purposes, the latch levers arereleased and swung away from above the ends of. the rods 32' so that upon upward swing of the lever 52 the distributor roll assembly is raised. If it is desired to raise both roller assemblies, the latch levers are left locked and then when the distributor assembly is raised upon up ward swing of the lever 52, the ends of rod 32' would engage the levers and the form roller assemly is lifted with the distributor roller assembly.

In order to assure clean and perfect printing, there should be no slip of the form rollers rela tive to the form during the application of ink to the form, in order to prevent slurring of the ink. Where the form rollers are of comparatively soft and yieldable material which is airected by temperature or the weather, the roll diameter may change so that its peripheral speed will not be in a synchronism with the driving means, and there will be relative movement or slippage of the form roll and form along the inking lines. For such type of rollers, adjustment ,means are provided for convenient and ready adjustment of the drive to re-establish as closely as possible the synchronism of the form roller and form speeds. The form rollers may therefore be provided with adjustable wheel structures, shown best by Figures 5, 3, and 10. Each wheel structure comprises a hub 58 carrying at its inner end the bevelled disk 59, the hub being keyed to the stub shaft 15 and seating against the shoulder 66. A companion bevelled disk 6! is axially shiftable on the hub 58 but is restrained to rotate with the hub by means of pine 62 extending from the bevelled disk 59 into openings through the disk 6|. An adjusting collar 63 has threaded engagement with the hub 58 to abut the disk 6! for adjustment thereof relative to the disk 59. The opposed disks provide support for a tire 64 whose inner edges are bevelled to fit the bevel of the disks but Whose outer surface is cylindrical for engagement with the supporting rails It on the press bed. The traction diameter of the wheel structure is adjusted by means of the collar 63. The tire is of resilient material, such for example as rubber, and the disks are set so that the tire is always under more or less expansion. To increase the diameter, the collar 63 is adjusted for movement of the disk 6! toward the disk 59 for further expansion of the tire axially for the desired increase in traction diameter. To reduce the diameter, the collar 63 is adjusted to relieve the pressure so that the tire may contract to the desired diameter. The disk 6| may be held in adjusted position by spring pressed detent balls 65 engaging in recesses in the disk.

Where the form rollers are of material which is less yielding and comparatively unaffected by temperature or weather conditions, solid wheels, such as Wheels 66, could be used for the form rollers, as shown in Figure 11.

An important object of our invention is to provide simple and efficient indicating or gauging means for measuring and indicating when Y the form rollers do not have proper rolling engagement with the form but are slipping relative to the form. We have shown such gauge means associated with the distributing roller 26, as best shown by Figures 8 and 9. On one of the stub shafts 29 of the roller 26, a gauge cylinder 6'! is mounted between the roller end and the supporting wheel, 38 on the shaft. This gauge cylinder, like the distributing roller, is preferably of steel and has threaded engagement with the threading 38 on the shaft, which threading is such that one revolution of the cylinder will cause considerable axial travel thereof on the shaft, there being sufficient clearance space between the end of the roller and the wheel 38 for such axial travel of the gauge cylinder. The gauge cylinder has the same diameter as the distributing roller and engages with the end of the ink carrying bodies of the form rollers A and B, as shown on Figure 3.

With the roller and driving assembly shown, the Weight and pressure of the distributing and vibrating roller assembly is borne by the wheels W of the form roller so that these wheels will have good traction with the rails IE to prevent slippage thereof, the rails 16 being ordinarily at form height. When the printing roller carriage and the inking roller assembly is sln'fted longitudinally along the press bed, the gear 39 will positively drive the distributing roller 26 for driving of the form roll wheels W by the wheels 33 and 33' of the distributing roller in synchronism with the rolling engagement of the wheels W with the rails. Theoretically, if the diameter of the form roller is the same as that of the wheels W, then, when the form rollers travel over the form, the engagement Will be a rolling one, and there will be no slippage between the form rollers and the form, and consequently there will be no slippage between the form rollers and the distributing roller, and the distributing roller and the gauge cylinder 61 will be in synchronism and rotate together so that there will be no axial displacement of the gauge cylinder. However, should the diameter of the form rollers change, the disturbing roller and the gauge disk will no longer rotate in synchronism, and the gauge disk 6'! will be shifted axially. For example, should the diameter of theform rollers become greater on account of temperature change, the form rollers will slip relative to the form and also the distributing roller 26 which is positively driven, but thegauge cylinder 61, being free, will rotate with the form rollers at a speed which is greater than that of the distributing roller and the resulting axial movement of the gauge cylinder will therefore indicate the nonsynchronic cooperation of the form rollers and form. Should the diameter of the form rollers decrease, their peripheral travel will lag behind that of the distributing roller, and the gauge cylinder will be shifted axially in the opposite direction. Such axial movement of the gauge cylinder can be readily observed whilethe printing press is in operation, and if the error is too great, the proper adjustment may be made for synchronic operation of the form rollers. In order that the gauge cylinder 6'! may accurately measure and indicate the degree of non-synchronism or error, a pointer or arrow 69 may be provided thereon for cooperation with a scale it which may be provided on the wheel 38 of the distributing roller. The observer will note whether or not there is any axial shift or oscillation of the gauge cylinder during operation of a press, and the scale will indicate the extent of the nonsynchronous movement.

Where adjustable wheels such as shown on Figure are employed for the form rollers, adjustment can readily be made by means of the adjusting collar 63 to bring the diameter of the Wheel tire 6 5 to that of the form rolls so that. the form rolls may cooperate with the form without slippage.

Adjustment means should be provided for the desired degree of inking contact or kiss of the form rollers with the form. Referring to Figure 3, the rails it are adapted for vertical adjustment. As indicated, shims H may be inserted below the rails for setting of the rails with their upper traction surfaces a distance below form height lowered for lowering of the roller assembly for the desired degree of contact or kiss of the form rollers with the form,

Upon release of the latch bolts 56 and forward swing of the levers 54, the crank lever 52 may be swung to raise the distributing roller and Vibrator assembly away from the form roller assembly for inspection, cleaning, or other purposes. Then by raising the form roller assembly by clearing the rods i2 from the channels in the side plates 9 and iii, this form roller assembly may be rolled out for inspection, cleaning, or adjustment. When the form roll assembly is replaced and the distributor roller and vibrator assembly are into operative position, the bearing frames M which journal the form rollers may readily shift transversely relative to the truck frames H for proper alignment and association of the form rollers with the distributor roller, and proper and uniform engagement of the distributing roller wheels with the wheels of the form rollers. The guide pins 23 for the journal frames it will hold these frames horizontal so that the form roller assembly will not cant when engaging with the form, but will remain in horizontal position. 1

We have thus produced a simple and efficient inking assembly and accurate and efiicient driving for the form rollers, together with indicating or gauge means for accurately measuring and indicating any non-synchronous or slipping movement of the form rollers relative to the form during operation of the press, and also simple and efficient means for effecting adjustment to restore synchronous operation.

We have shown a practical and efficient embodiment of the various features'of our invention, but we do not desire to be limited to theexact construction, arrangement, and operation shown and described, as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim as follows:

1. In a printing press of the type described, a form inking roller and a supporting frame in which the roller is journalled, wheels on said roller engageable with rails on the press bed, said wheels being primarily dimensioned to causev rolling engagement of the form roller with a form on the press bed as said wheels roll along said rails during bodily travel of the roller supporting frame, a distributing roller above said form roller having inking engagement therewith, supporting wheels for said distributing roller resting on said form roller wheels, and means for positively rotating said distributing roller at a speed which will tend to cause the distributing roller wheels to rotate the distributing roller in synchronism with the form roller and to cause the distributing roller wheels to maintain the rolling engagement of the form roller wheels with the rails to prevent slippage of the wheels on the rails.

2. In a printing press of the type described, a form inking roller and a supporting frame in which the roller is journalled, wheels on said roller engageable with rails on the press bed, said wheels being primarily dimensioned to cause rolling engagement of the form roller with a form on the press bed as said wheels roll along said rails during bodily. travel of the roller supporting frame, a distributing roller above said form roller having inlnng engagement therewith, supporting wheels for said distributing roller resting on said form roller wheels, means for positively rotating said distributing roller at a speed which will tend to cause the distributing roller wheels to rotate the distributing roller in synchronism with the' form roller and to cause the distributing roller wheels to maintain the rolling engagement of the form roller wheels with the rolls to prevent slippage of the wheels on the rails, and gauge means comprising a gauge cylinder concentric with and of the same diameter as the distributing roller but free to rotate independently thereof, said gauge cylinder contacting said form roller to be rotated thereby and whereby any slippage between the form roller and thedi stributing roller will cause said gauge roller to rotate faster or slower than, the distributing roller to thereby indicate the slippage between the form roller and the printing form due to any variation in the circumference of the form roller,

3. In a printing press of the type described, a form inking roller and a supporting frame in which the roller is journaled, wheels on said roller engageable with ways on the press bed, said wheels being primarily dimensioned to cause rolling engagement of the form roller with a form on thepress bed during relative movement of said bed and roller supporting frame, a distributing roller above said form roller havin inking engagement therewith, supporting wheels for said distributing roller resting on said form roller wheels, and means for positively. rotating said distributing roller at a speed which will tend to cause said distributing roller to rotate the form roller over the form without slippage thereof, the pressure of said distributing roller supdimension, a supporting frame in which said roller is journaled, wheels on said roller engage- I able with ways on the press bed, said wheels being dimensioned to cause under normal temperature conditions rolling engagement of the form inking roller with a form on the press bed during relative movement of said bed and roller supportingframe, means for preventing slippage of said wheels on said ways, and gauging means comprising cooperable gauge elements, one of said elements being supported to follow the circumferential movement of said roller and the other element being supported to follow the circumferential movement of said wheels, the arrangement being such that when said roller has only rolling engagement with said form there will be no relative movement of said gauge elements but when said roller under abnormal conditions has t circumferential movement relative to said form said gauge elements will move relatively to indi-,

cate the degree of such circumferential movement of the roller relative to the form.

5. In a printing press of the type described, a form inking roller which under temperature variations may expand or contract for variation in circumferential dimension, a supporting frame in which the roller is journaled, wheels on said roller engageable with ways on the press bed, said wheels being dimensioned to cause under normal conditions rolling engagement of the form inking roller with a form on the press bed during relative movement of said bed and roller supporting frame, and gauge means comprising cooperating cylindrical gauge elements, one of said elements being supported for engagement with said roller to follow the circumferential movement thereof, and the other gauge element being mounted to engage with and to follow the circumferential movement of said wheels, the arrangement being such that under normal temperature conditions when said roll is driven for rolling engagement only with said form there 10 will be no relative movement of said gauge elements but when under abnormal temperature conditions said roller will have circumferential movement relative to said form there will be corresponding relative movement between said gauge elements for indicating the degree of said circumferential movement of the roller relative to the form.

DAVID D. VANDERCOOK. OTTO C. GEFFKEN. 

